Clark-Peterek Belize

Children's Day

Last week schools across Belize celebrated Children’s Day. This day is set aside to honor the children of Belize with fun and activities.  Little Flower R.C. traveled to Barranco Village for a day of games and culuture.  Students from Barranco gave Little Flower students a tour of the village, which included a visit to the late great Andy Palacio’s grave.  A futbol game between the schools wrapped up the day with John as referee. 

Children’s Day at St. Benedict R.C. was full of fun and outdoor games.  Students participated in the three-legged race, sack race, relay race, and marble & spoon race.  We had a school wide limbo and high jump competition, and the biggest game of musical chairs I have ever seen.  The weather was beautiful and everyone had a great time.   Once again, Children’s Day was a success. 

 

Places Around PG

Sanchez Jewelry Shop

Sanchez Jewelry Shop is just up the street from our house on Main Street.  Mr. Sanchez is very friendly and sells an array of jewelry from earrings and necklaces, bracelets, and rings, many of it hand made.  You can even special order earrings and charms for necklaces and bracelets.  It is a great place if you are looking for something special.

Harvest Celebration

At the beginning of November schools and churches around Belize celebrate the Harvest. Children and adults gather together and celebrate the harvest of crops. The celebration originated in England to remind people of all of the good things that God gives and the importance of sharing with those who are less fortunate.  Families bring food from home, and the church is decorated with various fruits, vegetables, and crops from around the area. After the service many of the food items are for sale, while the majority of the food is given to those in need.

This year we took part in the Forest Home Methodist School and Church Harvest Celebration. Each class came forward and presented their offering and gave thanks.  Everyone was dressed up and the church was decorated with flowers, plants, oranges, grapefruit, corn, gooseberries, squash, and much more. The church collected lots of food to give to those in the surrounding area. It was so nice to see the community come together, and we enjoyed being part of the celebration.

The Harvest Celebration really got us in the spirit for Thanksgiving and reminded us of all that we have to be thankful for. Thank you to all of those who love us and support us. We are thinking of you on this Thanksgiving Day. We love you and miss you.

We will spend Thanksgiving with our fellow Peace Corps Volunteers in Belmopan. We hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.

 

Santa Teresa

I recently traveled to Santa Teresa, a Maya Kekchi village about 40 miles west of Punta Gorda in the Toledo District.  Our fellow PCV and good friend Liz is an Education Volunteer in Santa Teresa. 

Santa Teresa is a beautiful and quiet little village with a population of around 350 people.  Most of the villagers live in thatch roof board houses.  The majority of families have a water pump or pipe in the yard and many have outdoor latrines.  Santa Teresa does not have electricity, and villagers bathe and do laundry in the river.  Santa Teresa R.C. School, where Liz works, has a little over 100 students.  Liz works with the teachers to improve literacy education and instruction. She worked with a fellow teacher to start the school's chess club and helps with the school garden.  Liz has also been instrumental in the formation of a Women's Rice Mill Co-op in the village.  

I was so excited to finally visit Liz in Santa Teresa.  I took the Corazon Bus and made the 2 hour ride to Santa Teresa.  Liz met me on the road, and we walked back to her house. We took a walk through the village, toured the school, and took an evening stroll through the jungle.  We visited with her neighbors and ate dinner at nearby family’s house.  As it was getting dark, we headed back to her home.  We lit the kerosene lamps and spent the rest of the night listening to music, laughing, and talking.  We had an early bed time, as we had to catch a very early bus at 4:30 a.m. to head back to PG. 

I had a great time visiting Santa Teresa and hope to return.  Thanks Liz for such a nice visit.   

St. Benedict Butterflies

Last week Sgt. Therese Robinson from the 1st Battalion of the Belize Defense Force visited the St. Benedict Butterflies Girls Club.  She started the presentation by discussing the history of the Belize Defense Force, also known as the BDF.  She talked about women’s history and roles in the BDF, as well as the services and benefits offered.  Sgt. Therese shared personal stories as a BDF soldier and spoke honestly of the advantages and disadvantages about serving in the BDF.

The Belize Defense Force was formed in January 1978 and began accepting applications for women in July 1980.  Twenty-one women were in the first intake of the Women Belize Defense Force. Today women make up 5% of the BDF, and female soldiers are held to the same standard as male soldiers.  The BDF is compromised of the Regular Force, Volunteer Element, and the Technical Reserve Element.  The role of the BDF is to defend Belize, provide support to civil power, and any other duties that may be assigned.  To join the BDF you must be a Belizean National between he ages of 18-23, you must be physically fit, and have a primary school or secondary school certificate. 

The girls were so excited to have Sgt. Therese at our Girls Club, and many of them asked several questions.  They enjoyed hearing about Sgt. Therese’s stories and looking through personal photos of her service.  The Belize Defense Force is a great option for some individuals with many benefits.  It is important for these young girls to see strong women leaders, and Sgt. Therese is a great role model. 

POWA Bus Bashment

HIV/AIDS Education & Prevention is an important part of every Peace Corps Volunteer’s service.  John is a member of the Peace Corps HIV/AIDS Committee and recently traveled to the Stann Creek District for the 1st Annual POWA Bus Bashment. POWA, or the Productive Organization for Women in Action, is a women's empowerment group from Dangriga. Peace Corps HIV/AIDS Committee members traveled with the group to several villages and assisted with HIV/AIDS Education.  Alongside POWA members, Volunteers conducted surveys, passed out fliers and condoms, participated in condom demonstrations, and set up satellite tables with information for the community.  The Peace Corps Volunteers really enjoyed working with POWA, and it was a very successful day. 

POWA members performing at the Sarawee Village Community Center.

Satellite Table with information in Silk Grass Village.

Passing out information in Hopkins Village. 

Places Around PG

Gomier's Restaurant & Soy Center

Gomier makes some of the best food in Toledo, and his restaurant is a vegetarian’s dream.  Originally from the Eastern Caribbean, Gomier has a true gift when it comes to working in the kitchen.  His baked goods are healthy and delicious, and the vegetarian lasagna and BBQ tofu are very popular.  Anyone who visits PG must make a stop at one of our favorite places to eat, right at the entrance of town. 

Marbles

It’s marble time.  Marbles is a game played by young boys throughout Belize.  Boys can be found in the yard or on the road before school, during break, and after school playing marbles.  Some of the games can get pretty intense, and you always have to make sure to negotiate if you are playing for keeps or
not.

 
Students at St. Benedict R.C. School playing marbles. 

International Book Project

St. Benedict R.C. School recently received a shipment of books from the International Book Project.  The IBP promotes global friendship and world literacy through book distribution projects.  St. Benedict is participating in the IBP's Books as Bridges Pen-Pal Program.  Schools in various parts of the world are matched up with local schools and organizations in Kentucky.  In exchange for participating in the Pen-pal program, schools receive a shipment of books.  I have been working to expand the school library, and thought this was a great opportunity for cultural exchange.  Our Infant I, Standard I, Standard II, and Standard III classes just mailed their first letters to their pen-pals, and we can't wait to hear back.  Our shipment of books arrived a few weeks ago.  We received 140 books: picture books, chapter books, non-fiction books, and story collections.  The students were so excited to help unpack the boxes of books and get to reading.  Thank you International Book Project. 

Places Around PG

Father Frances J. Ring  SJ Parish Hall

The Father Frances J. Ring SJ Parish Hall is part of the St. Peter Claver Catholic Parish, and is one of the larger meeting spaces in Punta Gorda.  It is often rented out to various individuals and organizations for meetings, parties, workshops, presentations, assemblies, pageants, and in-services.